Rotary machine and bushing therefor



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J an E R E 9w H Q m E 71 Q 2g .3 J \\\M mm m W Mw w w V1 A E m 0 mm g g u M R & Ev R Q EN Q N w 8 om W Dec. 12, 1939.

W. D. DAVIDSON ROTARY MACHINE AND BUSHING THEREFOR Filed Sept. 6, 1958 Dec. 12, 1939. w. v1:). DAVIDSON ROTARY MACHINE AND BUSHING THEREF 'OR' Filed Sept. 6, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WIL LIA M 0.- DA V/DSO/Y.

' A TTORNEY Dec. 12, 1939. w. D. DAVIDSON 2,132,793

ROTARY MACHINE AND BUSHING THEREFOR Filed Sept. 6, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet s We I Q? 8 48, 5/ ,2

\V/LA/AM .0. DAV/050A:

[1V 5 NT OR Dec. 12, 1939. I w. D. DAVIDSON 2,182,793

- ROTARY MACHINE AND BUSHING THEREFOR Filed Sept. 6, 1938 Sheets-Sheet 4 mum 5 Mum/14 D. DAV/050A.

B Y f VV TOR /-9/ I I A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED sTATEs ROTARY MACHINE AND BUSHING THEREFOR William D. Davidson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Emsco Derrick Los Angeles, Calif., a

& Equipment Company, corporation of California,

Application September 6.15338, Serial No. 228,585

7 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in rtary machines of the class commonly employed in the drilling of oil wells.

In the drilling of an oilwell by the rotary method it is the practice to employ a drill pipe which extends into the hole and which has a bit secured to the lower end thereof. The upper end of the drill pipe is provided with a drive stem 01 kelly which is usually of rectangular crosssection, which keliy extends through the table of the rotary machine which is supported on the derrick floor. For the purpose of rotatably driving the kelly it is the practice to provide a drive bushing or kellybushing which is placed in the opening of the table of the rotary machine, which drive bushing has an opening of a cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of the kelly, and through which the kelly extends. When stands of pipe are being connected to or disconnected from the string of drill pipe slips are employed which are supported in the table by a table bushing or master bushing, these slips fitting in a tapered opening and being caused to tightly grip' the pipe so as to support the same.

In the conventional rotary table the drive bushing is supported by the master bushing and the twisting of the kelly tends to spread the master bushing causing wear thereon and on the inside of the rotary table. This wear results in a poor fit between the slips and thetapered bore of the master bushing resulting in an imperfect contact between the slips and the drill pipe.

It is an object of my invention to provide a retary machine of the general character referred to above in which wear on the table bushing or master bushing by reason of engagement of the drive bushing therewith is wholly eliminated.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a rotary machine in which the drive bushing and table bushing are independently supported in the tab-1e opening and are each independently driven by the table, and in which these two bushings 1 are wholly out of contact with each other so that the drive bushing will not transmit any driving forces or weight to the table bushing.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a combination including a rotary table, .a drive bushing, and a table bushing in which the bushings are of special design in order that the features of my invention pointed out in the preceding paragraphs may be achieved. when used with the standard type of rotary table.

,It ,is also an object of 'my invention to provide a combination of the character pointed out. here- ..toiore in which the drive bushing is rotated by (C1. zsss-zs) 1 upright driving shoulders formed within the table opening and is supported by a lateral supporting shoulderwhich engages a shoulder of the rotary table formed at the topof the table opening.

It is a still further object of my invention to providev a rotary machine and bushing combination in which the rotary table may employ the special bushings of my invention or, if desired,

drive bushing which is so designed that it may be employed with standard designs of rotary tables to enable the attainment of the objects,

features, and'advantages of my invention.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be pointed out in the course of the following detailed description of three forms of my invention which have been chosen for the pur pose of instructing those skilled in the art as to how my invention may be practiced. It should be understood, however, that my invention is not limited to the details of construction to be hereinaiter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but my inventionv should be construed to cover all modifications thereof which come within the spirit and scope of thepreceding statement of invention and appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the table end of the rotary machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 6-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of a locking means for the drive bushing and is taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the iine 6-5 of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 7 is a detailed view showing the locking Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the table end of the rotary machine showing the manner in which the table bushing supports slips which in turn support the drill pipe.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a second form of my invention.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a third form of my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive, the numeral H represents a base on which a rotary table I2 is supported by means of a main bearing I4. The table l2 has a ring gear l5 secured to it which is in engagement with a pinion 5, which pinion i6 is supported to a shaft H which may be rotated through the medium of a sprocket la.

The table I2 has a top portion 20 having a top wall 2!, and depending from the top portion 20 is a skirt 22 which is of general cylindrical shape and is surrounded by the main bearing l4. At the lower end of the skirt there may be, in accordance with standard practice, a holddown bearing 23 which restrains the table l2 from vertical movement.

The table l2 has a table opening 24 which is concentric to the axis of rotation of the table and is divided into two sections, an upper shouldered section 26 and a lower cylindrical or skirt section 28. The upper shouldered section 26 is preferably of polygonal cross-section and has vertical walls 29 which constitute driving shoulders and has a lower lateral or horizontal wall 30 which constitutes a lower supporting shoulder. The upper ends of the driving shoulders 29 terminate in the plane of the top wall 2!, and surrounding the upper shouldered section 26 is an upper supporting shoulder 3| which is coextensive with and is in the same plane as the top wall 2| of the rotary table.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a table bushing or master bushing 31 which is positioned in the table opening 24. This table bushing 31 is preferably split into two halves 38 and 39 so that it may be installed in the table opening while a drill pipe, such as indicated at 40, is extending through the table opening. This table bushing 31 has an upper shouldered portion 4| which corresponds in cross-sectional shape to the crosssectional shape of the upper shouldered portion 25 of the table opening 24 and has a lower cylindrical portion 42. The shouldered portion 4| rests in the lower part of the upper shouldered section 26 and has upright driving shoulders 43 which engage the lower parts of the driving shoulders 29 whereby relative rotation between the table and table bushing 37 is prevented and whereby the table may be caused to drive the table bushing. The shouldered portion 4| of the table bushing 31 also has lateral supporting shoulders 44 adapted to engage the lower supporting shoulders 30 of the table opening 24 in o der to support the table bushing 31. The cylindrical portion 42 of the table bushing 31 has a cylindrical wall 46 which may engage the cylindrical wall of the skirt portion 22 of the table i2. The table bushing provides an inner conical or tapered wall 41 which receives a plurality of pipe slips 4B which engage and support the drill pipe 40. There are preferably three slips which are inserted into the table opening from the top thereof by workmen on the derrick floor and may be provided with suitable handles, not shown. The various interengaging supporting surfaces are made concentric to the axis of rotation of the table and are made complementary to each other in order that the drill pipe 40 will be concentrically supported and will be evenly and fully engaged by the teeth formed in the slips 48.

In Figs. 1 to 4 I illustrate my invention with a drive bushing or kelly bushing 50 in the position which it occupies when the kelly is being driven thereby. The drive bushing 50 of this form of my invention is preferably provided in two parts 5! and 52 which coengage along a diametral line 53. The drive bushing 50 has a central opening 54 of rectangular or other polygonal cross-section and is adapted to drivably engage a drive stem or kelly 55. The drive bushing 50 includes a shouldered portion 56 and a depending portion 57. The shouldered portion 56 is preferably of polygonal cross-section and corresponds in cross-sectional shape to the crosssectional shape of the upper shouldered section 26 of the table opening 24. The shouldered portion 56 has vertical walls 59 which constitute driving shoulders and are adapted to engage the upper portions of the driving shoulders 29 of the upper shouldered section 26 of the table opening 24. Also provided as a part of the shouldered portion 56 or provided as extending from the upper part thereof is an upper outwardly projecting flange 60, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3,

which constitutes upper supporting shoulders I which are adapted to engage the upper supporting shoulder 31 formed at the upper end of the upper shouldered section 26. The depending portion 51 projects downwardly into the conical opening provided by the table bushing 31 and is p y 48 are not in use and have been removed from the master bushing 3'! so that the lower part of the drive bushing may be accommodated in the conical opening 41.

The parts are so proportioned and designed that there is no contact whatsoever between the drive bushing 50 and the table bushing 31, and

these parts are separated by a small space 62 as well illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The table l2 therefore independently supports the drive bushing and the table bushing and independently drives both of these bushings. force or weight is transmitted from the drive bushing 50 to the table bushing 31, as is obvious from an inspection of the drawings.

In order that the bushings may be locked in the table, suitable lock means is provided. The drive bushing 50 is locked in place by means of a lock means which includes a latch member 65 mounted on a rotatable shaft 66 which extends to the top wall 21 of the table and which, upon rotation, is movable from a position within a pocket 61 of the table, which position is illustrated by dotted lines 68, into a locking position which is shown by full lines in Figs. 5 and 6, and in which the end of the latch 65 extends into a recess 68 of the drive bushing 58. bushing is locked in place by a similar construction, as illustrated in Fig. 7, which includes a latch member 10 movable between latched and unlatched position by a rotatable shaft 1| on which the latch member is mounted, and which No driving The table is adapted to extend into a. recess 12 of the table bushing 31 when in latched position. By inserting a suitable wrench into polygonal openings 13 formed in the upper ends of the rods 66 and H the latches B5 and 10 may be operated in order to lock or unlock the bushings with respect to the table.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I illustrate an alternative form of my inventionin which the top wall of the drive bushing 50 is in the same plane as the top wall 2! of the table. This is accomplished by providing a recess 82 at the upper end of the upper shouldered section 26 and by forming the upper supporting shoulders 3| at the bottom of this recess 82. In this way the outwardly projecting shoulders 60 of the drive bushing 53 may rest in the recess 82 and lower faces 83 thereof may engage the shoulders 38. This form. of the invention may be employed where the operator. prefers to have the top wall 85 or" the drive bushing exactly flush with the top wall 2| of the rotary table.

In Fig. 11 I illustrate another form of drive bushing identified by the numeral 9!), which type of bushing is intended to be supported at all times by the kelly 55. This type of drive bushing includes a one-piece body which has a cylindrical wall 9| which extends upward from the shouldered portion 56 and which cooperates with the remainder of the bushing to provide a cen tral opening 92 in which kelly engaging means or blocks 93 are supported, these blocks'being retained between the lower shoulder 94 and an upper retaining member 95 which is bolted to the upper end of the Wall St. When the kelly is moved upward the joint 91 at the lower end thereof will engage the drive bushing and lift it upwardly from. the table opening. In this form of my invention it is not necessary to manually remove the drive bushing from place as in the other two forms of my invention.

In the use of any of the forms of my invention disclosed therein both the table and drive bushings are in place during the driving of the kelly. The table bushing 3! remains in place at all times ready for use. When it is desired to support the drill pipe, the kelly is pulled upward and the drive bushing is unlocked and removed. The slips, such as illustrated at 48, may then be inserted in place and drill pipe supported as desired. The table bushing is used only for supporting the slips which support the drill pipe, and in my invention the table bushing is not called upon to support or drive the drive bushing and no supporting or driving forces are transmitted from the drive bushing through the table bushing to the table. The table bushing and walls or shoulders engaging the same are not subjected to wear which would result if the table bushing supported and drove the drive bushing, and therefore these interengaging shoulders or'suriaces will remain in good condition and alignment over a long period of time and will support the slips 48 in a concentric and aligned position over long periods of use. If it is necessary to remove large objects through the rotary table, the entire table opening may be made accessible by first unlocking the table bushing and then removing it from the table opening to.

My invention employs a standard table with a standard table opening in order that the advantages of my invention may be obtained in rotary machines now in use merely by obtaining and using the special bu hings of my invention.

The design of the drive bushing whereby this drive bushing may be supported in the opening of a standard rotary tableand in such a position that it will not be in driving contact or supporting contact with the table bushing is an important consideration of my invention.

I understand that various modifications and alterations may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof,

and I therefore wish my invention to be broadly I construed in accordance with the statement of invention and appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a rotary machine of the class described, the combination of: a base; a rotary table supported by said base, said table having a table opening which includes an upper shouldered section having a driving shoulder, an upper supporting shoulder at the upper part of said driving shoulder, said upper supporting shoulder being below the top wall of said table, and a lower sup-- porting shoulder at the lower part of said driving shoulder; a table bushing in said opening having a shouldered portion positioned in the lower part of said'upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder engageable with said driving shoulder'of said upper shouldered section and having a supporting shoulder engageable with said lower supporting shoulder; and a drive bushing for driving a kelly positioned in said table opening having a shouldered portion positioned in said upper shoulder-ed section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder and a supporting shoulder engageable respectively with said driving shoulder, and said upper supporting shoulder of said ta-' ble opening, said table bushing and said drive bushing being independently supported by said table and said drive bushing transmitting no driving forces or weight to said table bushing.

.2. In a rotary machine of the class described the combination of: a base; a rotary table supported by said base, said table'having a table opening which includes an upper shouldered section having a driving shoulder, an upper-supporting shoulder at the" upper part of said driving shoulder, and a lower supporting shoulder at the lower part of said driving shoulder; a table bushing in said opening having a shouldered portion positioned in the lower part of said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion hav-ifling a driving shoulder engageable with said driving shoulder of said upper shouldered section and having a supporting shoulder engageable with said lower supporting. shoulder; and a drive bushing for driving a kelly positioned in said table opening having a shouldered portion positioned in said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder and a supporting shoulder engageable respectively with said driving shoulder and said upper.

supporting shoulder of said table opening, said table bushing and said drive bu hing being independently supported by said table and said drive bushing transmitting no driving forces or weight to said table bushing.

dered section, said shouldered portion having a" driving shoulder engageable with said driving shoulder of said upper shouldered section and having a supporting shoulder engageable with said lower supporting shoulder; and a drive bushing for driving a kelly positioned in said table opening having a shouldered portion positioned in said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder and a supporting shoulder engageable respectively with said driving shoulder and said upper supporting shoulder of said table opening, said table bushing and said drive bushing being independently supported -by said table and said drive bushing being fully out of contact with said table bushing so that no driving forces or weight can be transmitted from said drive bushing to said table bushing.

4. In a rotary machine of the class described, the combination of: a base; a rotary table supported by said base, said table having a table opening which includes an upper shouldered section having a driving shoulder, an upper supporting shoulder at the upper part of said driving shoulder, said upper supporting shoulder being in the same plane as the top wall of said table, and a lower supporting shoulder at the lower part of said driving shoulder; a table bushing in said opening having a shouldered portion positioned in the lower part of said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder engageable with said driving shoulder of said upper shouldered section and having a supporting shoulder engageable with said lower supporting shoulder; and a drive bushing for driving a kelly positioned in said table opening having a shouldered portion positioned in said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder and a supporting shulder engageable respectively with said driving shoulder and said upper supporting shoulder of said table opening, said table bushing and said drive bushing being independently supported by said table and said drive bushing transmitting no driving forces or weight to said table bushing.

5. In a rotary machine of the class described, the combination of: a base; a rotary table supported by said base, said table having a table opening which includes an upper shouldered section having a driving shoulder, an upper supporting shoulder at the upper part of said driving shoulder, said upper supporting shoulder being below the top wall of said table, and a lower supporting shoulder at the lower part of said driving shoulder; a table bushing in said opening having a shouldered portion positioned in the lower part of said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder engageable with said driving shoulder of said upper shouldered section and having a supporting shoulder engageable with said lower supporting shoulder; and a drive bushing for driving a kelly positioned in said table opening having a shouldered portion position in said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder which projects outwardly therefrom and a supporting shoulder engageable respectively with said driving shoulder and said upper supporting shoulder of said table opening, said table bushing and said drive bushing being independently supported by said table and said drive bushing transmitting no driving forces or weight to said table bushing.

6. In a rotary machine of the class described, the combination of: a base; a rotary table supported by said base, said table having a table opening which includes an upper shouldered section having a driving shoulder, an upper supporting shoulder at the upper part of said driving shoulder, and a lower supporting shoulder at the lower part of said driving shoulder; a table bushing in said opening having a shouldered portion positioned in the lower part of said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder engageable with said driving shoulder of said upper shouldered section and having a supporting shoulder engageable with said lower supporting shoulder; and a drive bushing for driving a kelly positioned in said table openinghaving a shouldered portion positioned in said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder which projects outwardly therefrom and a supporting shoulder engageable respectively with said driving shoulder and said upper supporting shoulder of said table opening, said table bushing and said drive bushing being independently supported by said table and said drive bushing transmitting no driving forces or weight to said table bushing.

7. In a rotary machine of the class described, the combination of: a base; a rotary table supported by said base, said table having a table opening which includes an upper shouldered section having a driving shoulder, an upper supporting shoulder at the upper part of said driving shoulder, and a lower supporting shoulder at the lower part of said driving shoulder; a table bushing in said opening having a shouldered portion positioned in the lower part of said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder engageable with said driving shoulder of said upper shouldered section and having a supporting shoulder engageable with said lower supporting shoulder; and a drive bushing for driving a kelly positioned in said table opening having a shouldered portion positioned in said upper shouldered section, said shouldered portion having a driving shoulder which projects outwardly therefrom near the upper part of said shouldered portion of said drive bushing and a supporting shoulder engageable respectively with said driving shoulder and said upper supporting shoulder of said table opening, said table bushing and said drive bushing being independently supported by said table and said drive bushing transmitting no driving forces or weight to said table bushing.

WILLIAM D. DAVIDSON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,182,795. December 12, 1959.

WILLIAMD. DAVIDSON. I It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification 7 of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page LL, first column,-1ine 58-59, claim for "shulder" read shoulder} line 65, claim 5, forfiposition" read positioned; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with'thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 50th day of January, A. D. 191 0.

Henr; Van Arsdale, l) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

